Reliability and 33 Years of Experience, Not looking good. Options

[Series9]

As the owner of an indy VAP shop, I have to say things are not looking good.

I started in VWs with my grandfather's '71 Super Beetle when I was 14. I would enthusiastically tell everyone (for a very long time) that German engineering was the way to go.

Fast forward 33 years. What I say now: "Do NOT buy any VAP built after 1998." Even before 1998, I now realize that drivers of American and Asian cars have generally had a more reliable experience.

My Vanagon is on it's third engine in ten years, my Jetta requires attention at least twice a month, my 914 (before it became the RS) required an engine replacement in the five years I owned it as a /4.......etc, etc.

I'm basically making money on the flaws of German engineering. Yes, it tends to be more precise than the others. BUT, that precision comes at a cost. Small flaws amplify themselves in such a way that the whole system will stop working harmoniously long before other manufacturer's vehicles.

What's my most reliable vehicle/mile/dollar/hour of maintenance? 2006 Ford F250 6.0 Diesel (and that truck has the "unreliable" 6.0).

If someone came to me tonight and said "you have to drive to Washington state and leave right now", I would get right in the Ford and not worry one second about making it there and back.

If I had to take the Vanagon or the Jetta, I would be highly stressed. Both cars are great, but great for within 100 miles.

That's it. I wanted it off my chest.

My VAP specialty will continue at S9, but I may be driving something else..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[jcd914]

20 years working on VW, Audi & Porsche and I have seen plenty of "German Engineering" gone wrong.
It usually looks like good design that was cheaply implemented.

I have a 1996 Audi A6 quattro sedan with an auto trans, that has been one of the most reliable cars I've owned.
It is currently my son's DD with 290K miles and has required little more than brakes and maintenace.
Had to replace the radiator fans and the climate control head, both of which I got at pick and pull.
The leather seats are slpit and torn and the paint is faded but it starts and drives evertime.

I have a 2008 Ford F-150 with 160k miles that like my A6 has been almost trouble free but it currently has a transmission leak and the shifting is a little odd sometimes. I'll be taking it in to get looked at as soon as the S4 is back together.

I have a 1993 Audi S4 with 240K miles on it and it has been a bit more trouble some but not bad overall.
Radiator fan failed and took out my radiator, coil packs failed,Bose amps squeal periodically.
It chews up tires because it is big and fast and I like to push it.
I just last week put new seals and bushings in the turbo and don't have it running yet..

I have a 2001 VW Beetle (daughter's car) that up til recently has been trouble free. I guess my brother had fixed all the broblems before I bought it from him. Last christmas the water pump failed and my daughter lives in Long Beach so I had to pay to have it fixed. With all the added on require extra "when we do these cars we always replace these other crappy plastic parts that will fail right after you leave our shop" it was almost $1500. Since then I have had t have the brakes replaced and a fuse/relay panel that sits on the battery in the engine compartment.

I have only bought 1 new car in my life and time will tell if that was a mistake or not.
Two years ago we bought a new 2014 VW Jetta TDI and with 30K miles it has been perfect sp far.
I did buy an extended warranty and extended maintenace, so 4 years I don't have to touch it.
My wife loves the car, so I don't think I will convince her to sell it back to VW but I'll get $6K from VW for cheating on smog and getting caught.


Jim

[Tom_T]

I have a 2001 VW Beetle (daughter's car) that up til recently has been trouble free. I guess my brother had fixed all the broblems before I bought it from him. Last christmas the water pump failed and my daughter lives in Long Beach so I had to pay to have it fixed. With all the added on require extra "when we do these cars we always replace these other crappy plastic parts that will fail right after you leave our shop" it was almost $1500. Since then I have had t have the brakes replaced and a fuse/relay panel that sits on the battery in the engine compartment.

Jim

Jim,

If you're not satisfied with the local shop your daughter takes the VW to, then try Hans Imports in Huntington Beach. Hans started out working at an Austrian VPA shop in the 1960's, worked for Circle Porsche in Long Beach in the late 60's to 72, when he started his own shop (& he was factory trained on our 914s from 69 too - which is how I started going to him in Summer 75 when I started looking for my 914, until he gave his blessing to the 73 2L I have).

His son works there now too, so if you want to talk direct with him, you'll have to ask for "Senior", & you can say that I recco'd you & your daughter (not that it will do you any good ;-). The "New Beastle" may still need expensive work (it's still a VW), but he'll tell you what to fix & what to ignore or whatever, & how best to resolve it.

He did advise me away from the new Beetle or old Bug as a car for our kids back in `03 FYI, & suggested Toyota or Honda .... & this is from an old school VPA Austrian guy still with a thick accent!

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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